McLaughlin sentence silences supporters

DRACUT -- Before Chelsea Housing Authority chief Michael McLaughlin was sentenced Wednesday to three years in federal prison, 47 people -- public officials, former employees, family and friends -- wrote glowing letters of support to the federal judge asking for leniency and praising McLaughlin for his years of public service, his business savvy, and his dedication to friends and family.

But in the hours after U.S. District Court Judge Douglas Woodlock slapped the 67-year-old Dracut resident with the "enhanced" sentence, many of his supporters seemed to distance themselves from the now-convicted felon.

In February, McLaughlin pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to four counts of falsifying documents to hide his grossly inflated salary from state and federal officials from 2008 to 2011. McLaughlin admitted to falsely reporting his annual salary as director of the Chelsea Housing Authority as $160,415 in 2011, when his total compensation was at least $324,896.

He overpaid himself a total of $548,192 from 2008 to 2011, then filed false documents to cover it.

After a lengthy sentencing hearing on Wednesday, McLaughlin, a Billerica native who now lives in Dracut, was sentenced to 36 months in prison, followed by two years probation. Woodlock increased McLaughlin's sentence to three years, from the U.S.

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Attorney's Office recommended sentence of a year, after the judge found that McLaughlin obstructed justice by allegedly having a housing authority accountant shred years of his pay slips to hide his real salary from investigators.

When The Sun reached out to McLaughlin's supporters on Wednesday and Thursday, many did not return phone calls or refused to speak about McLaughlin and the sentence.

Rose Sergi, who teaches communications at Middlesex Community College, said, "No comment," when asked for a reaction.

In her letter of recommendation, Sergi wrote that she has known McLaughlin since the second grade in Billerica, but it wasn't until high school that she got to know "the real Mike." In his senior year of high school, McLaughlin ran for class president and Sergi helped him in his first foray into politics. McLaughlin had a concern for his constituents even back then, she wrote.

Gerard Lavery, retired Billerica firefighter, and Paul Meaney, former member of the Woburn City Council, also said, "No comment," to an inquiry. Several other supporters did not answer calls, and voicemails were not returned.

The individual who answered the phone at the William McNulty household hung up immediately after hearing The Sun was calling. The person who picked up the phone never identified themselves.

McNulty, retired Billerica police captain, previously wrote to the judge that McLaughlin has always been a "loyal local public servant." He wrote that McLaughlin has been a proponent for employees, the elderly, education and recreation, public safety and the environment.

The McLaughlin letter writers who did talk to The Sun were Barbara Clement and Kenneth Henrick.

Clement, whose husband worked at the Lowell Housing Authority under McLaughlin for 10 years, said that her "heart is broken."

"I'll say a prayer for the family," said Clement, of Seabrook, N.H. "I'll pray for his family because I know his wonderful family and how sick his wife is. This is a really sad day."

In Clement's letter to the federal judge, she wrote that McLaughlin provides wonderful care for his ailing wife, Donna, who is suffering from Alzheimer's-like symptoms. Clement wrote that McLaughlin's wife needed him at home, telling the judge, "Please have mercy on our dear friend."

Henrick, former Methuen School Committee member, said he hasn't seen McLaughlin in years and wasn't that close to him, but McLaughlin asked him three months ago to write the support letter to the judge. In the letter, Henrick wrote about McLaughlin's two years as Methuen town manager; Henrick said taxes went down under McLaughlin, which he couldn't remember ever happening.

Henrick also wrote about McLaughlin reaching out to him because he was a high- school guidance counselor.

"He never asked for anything, except to help a kid," Henrick told The Sun. "He's very admirable, a nice guy, just an all-around decent person. He always tried to help people.

"But that's some hard time," he said about the three-year sentence. "I don't know how anyone handles three years in prison."

McLaughlin must surrender himself on Sept. 13 to begin serving his sentence. He should be eligible for parole in 31 months, according to his lawyer.

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